INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The evening began with 60,000 vacant seats and ended with a lapse that epitomized the USMNT’s sleepiness.
It was supposed to jumpstart World Cup preparations; instead, it was lifeless and “painful.”
It began with hope, that these CONCACAF Nations League finals would energize a distracted soccer nation; and serve as a crucial step for its national team under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. But U.S. fans hardly showed up to SoFi Stadium, and U.S. players fell 1-0 to Panama.
It was “frustrating,” defender Chris Richards said of the match.